Tommy Alexander – “Something light”
-There’s nothing I can say to prepare you for how much Tommy Alexander sounds like Johnny Cash. He just does. The phrasing, the tone, and the overall performance feels like a reboot of the Man in Black. But the thing is, Tommy is his own artist. He’s not trying to mimic anyone. The lyrical message is really fascinating about saying something funny to avoid getting too deep. It’s an ironic twist, I’d say, as the rest of the style seems to feel like it would fit deep and confessional lyrical types. Alexander is definitely one to watch in the alt country scene.
Little Miami – “Annie got her gun”
-If you’re a fan of narrative acoustic music, you’ll like the way this track opens. As you ease into what feels like a gentle folk-influenced country song, there’s a harmonica and a calm beat that works really well. The genre blend seems like a natural fit for the lyrical message. Listen carefully and relax with this one, a captivating example of the way alt country music can cut through the polite and conventional to make a bit of a unique message. This is a song about independence. I’d be interested in hearing how others interpret the lyrical message here as well.
John Hollywood – “Pile it on”
-This track has a great classic country vibe to it. The effect on the vocal definitely gives it a vintage air to it. The lyrics are about piling on bad news when it just seems like life is unrelenting. A lot of folks can probably relate to the lyrics, unfortunately. The line, though, about piling the dirt on over the grave is actually quite tongue-in-cheek like a good country song should do. It’s a fascinating piece of songwriting and fits with the Americana scene really well right now.
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